Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-06-03
EASTERN SYNDICATE OPPRESSION.

For q long time the cattle interests
of the West have been plundered by a
few Eastern men. These men, formed
into powerful syndicate, have ruled the
market with a rod OF iron. The magnet
of that rod has been the pocket of the
ruling syndicate. The men who have
invested their money in the cattle of the
Western grazing grounds, who take all
the risks of the business, have been
debarred from their legitimate profits.
Not only this, but the money
commanded by western beef, money
rightfully belonging to western owners,
has gone Systematically to swell a few
private eastern bank accounts, instead of
being placed in western circulation.
Thus not only the owners and raisers of
western beef have been plundered, but
the western public itself has been openly
robbed OF the fruit OF one of
its most prolific resources. To
put an end to this theft, and
to protect both themselves and
the great section they represent, the
range owners of Colorado and New Mex
leo have formed what is known as the
American Cattle Trust Company.
This organization bid fair to accomplish
its purpose as far as Colorado and New
Mexico are concerned, and should be at
once initiated in the rest of the western
cattle growing sections. OF the new Or
ganization the Denver Nea0s gives the fol-
lowing account:
The American Cattle Trust is an accom-
plished fact, with offices in New York City
and its main field of operations in Chicago,
where it has the most perfect facilities for
handling 1000 beeves per day, and where
receipts have already been recorded. This
organization is the direct result of agitation
among range cattle-owners and of the sue
cessive meetings held in Denver. 1t is we'll
known that the business was prostrated
mainly because the markets had passed un-
der the control of a few men, who dictated
prices and absorbed about all the profits
reducing live cattle 40 per cent in three
years, but holding dressed beef at old figures,
thus robbing both producer and consumer.
1t was this condition of affairs, more than
dLl ObuOI puIpOScy NulCu leu W Du6 1uGtT-
national Range Association. To members
of this body belongs the credit of the new
movement by which it Is hoped to perma-
nently benefit the business of cattle-grow-
ing. If other and powerful interests have
been associated with the project, it is due to
the personal efforts and influence OF the
range stock-owners.
The now organization hds ELECTED good
deal of comment and criticism. That it
should sustain attacks from the combina-
ton which has been fattening on the legiti-
mate profits of cattle growers will not sur
prise anybody. Bnt objections have been
made and doubts expressed by writer's who
are not owned BIZ any syndicate. Anything
that savors of combined power or monopoly
is looked upon with degree of suspicion.
1t would be unreasonable to expect an ex-
ception in this case, when it is considered
that for years the cattle business has been
throttled by organized capital. To those
who are interested, the question will arise:
What is the difference between this and
other combinations which are known to be
oppressive Is there any reason why this
should command confidence more than
others?
1t is believed that the new scheme for
marketing cattle is IN the interest of pro-
ducers and that common sense would die
tate their general support. Before giving
the reasons for this belief, it is we'll to re-
mind objectors that the plan was suggested
at either of the Denver conventions, and
that no plan has been advanced since by
which it is believed relief could be secured
except by opposing the ruling syndicate by
a stronger combination. If IL is true that
no other means have been suggested, and
that in the present state of society no other
plan is practicable, Is not the admission a
conclusive answer to the objections on the
ground of monopoly? Are we expected to
wait for some impossible millennium, when
corporate bodies and monopolies shall no
longer exist, and must cattle growing be
strangled until that day arrives?
If the plan proposed by men known and
respected in the range country should be
sustained, it would furnish an absolute
guarantee that the new company would be
managed Ill the interest of producers for
the reason that producers would control
the stock. This is one broad difference be-
tween the American Cattle Trust and other
great combinations. 1t follows that if
controlling interest is in the hands of cattle
men, while members will have special ad-
vantages in shipment and perhaps in yard
rates or other incidentals, the general effect
on the industry cannot fail to be beneficial.
If controlled by producers it will be their
interest to maintain the company as an
uncompromising competitor in the markets.
1t will also be to their interest to re-
duce the price of beef to consumers as
much as possible, and thereby multiply the
quantity consumed. This will be accom-
plished by lessening the expense of handling
between the grower and the consumer. The
consequence will be an enlarged demand.
This demand will be still further increased
by placing American beef in the prominent
markets of Europe, for which ample facil-
tiles have been secured. A careful consid-
Grafton of this entire project would seem
to warrant hopeful view. Cattle raising
involves immense interests, and the indus
try is nearly related with the prosperity of
the West. 1t has been crippled by moneyed
power. Can that power be neutralized save